[Department of epidemiology of the National Institute of Hygiene in Warsaw in the years 1951-2011--origins of forming, developmental ways in 60 years of work]. / Zaklad Epidemiologii Panstwowego Zakladu Higieny w Warszawie w latach 1951-2011--geneza powstania, drogi rozwoju w ciagu 60 lat pracy.

The paper discussed the origins of forming in 1951 the Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Hygiene in Poland and its subsequent tasks. Relating to the evolving tasks, changes in the organizational structure, professional profile of the staff, main professional challenges and scientific achievements are described in 10 years cycles. Successive chapters address: scientific careers of the Department staff and contribution to scientific development of the whole institute among others; teaching and training, mainly targeted at the epidemiological service staff in Poland; editorial and publishing activities.

[Problems of prevention and control of poliomyelitis in Poland]. / Aktualne problemy zapobiegania i zwalczania poliomyelitis w polsce.

In the fifties and the sixties of 20th century big epidemic and increasing numbers of poliomyelitis cases were observed in Poland as well in other countries of Europe and world. Inactivated Salk's vaccine in injections as well as oral attenuated vaccine were introduced to the control and prevention of this disease. As the result of it poliomyelitis was eradicated in American, European and of West Pacific Region of WHO. Since 1984 poliomyelitis cases were not registered in Poland, VAPP were observed in small numbers. Just now new vaccines with poliomyelitis component as Boostrix Polio and Adacel Polio are convenient to use as booster doses of poliomyelitis vaccine. Actually inactivated polio vaccine is used in majority of west European countries, USA, Canada, Australia. Inactivated vaccine in basic and attenuated vaccine in booster doses were used in Central and East European countries and only attenuated vaccine are used in big African, South and Central American countries, China, India and countries, witch were the part of past Soviet Union.

[Proposals concerning ways of control of hepatitis B in Poland since 2008]. / Propozycje dotyczace zapobiegania i zwalczania wirusowego zapalenia watroby typu B (wzw B) w Polsce od 2008 roku.

Improving of epidemiological situation of hepatitis B was reached by universal vaccination of infants, adolescents and vaccination of adults in high risk groups. Elimination of cases in the age group 0-10 and decreasing about 90% of number of notified cases observed in the years 1989-2004 was observed. Changes of the programme of vaccination since 2008 would be necessary to introduce. The first group of children vaccinated basically in the first year of life would grow up then to 14. Resignation of basic vaccination in 14 is necessary. Introducing of booster dose seems to be available in 14, opposite immunological memory, because: very high incidence rate of hepatitis B in past was noted in Poland; still now high incidence rate is noted in the groups 15-19 and 20-24 also in some voyvodships; documented immunological memory lasts only 15 years. This problem should be evaluated during routine vaccination and scheme of vaccination should be changed as soon as possible, not later than after 5 years. Except vaccination also improving of sterilization of medical and cosmetic equipment in autoclaves and hygiene measures especially in voyvodships: lódzkie, swiqtokrzyskie, kujawsko-pomorskie and dolnoslaske where rate of hepatitis B is the highest is necessery.

[Active immunization against acute gastro-enteritis among young children, caused by rotaviruses]. / Czynne uodpornienie malych dzieci przeciwko biegunkom o etiologii rotawirusowej.

Vaccines against rotaviruses infections are the first vaccines used against gastro-enterity among young children. There are two actual used oral vaccines: Rotarix (GSK) and RotaTeq (MSD/Sanofi Pasteur). Both vaccines are live with atenuated strains of viruses. Vaccination should be performed between 6 and 24 weeks of life, most often between 6 and 6 weeks. Two doses of Rotarix, three doses of RotaTeq with 4 weeks distances of time between vactination are used as immunization. No booster doses are recommended. Vaccines used actually are succesful and safety, especially according intussusception after vaccination.

[Vaccination against hepatitis B and epidemiological situation of this disease in European countries in the years 1990-2001]. / Szczepienie przeciwko wirusowemu zapaleniu watroby typu b i sytuacja epidemiologiczna tej choroby w krajach Europejskich w latach 1990-2001.

Programme of vaccination in 52 countries of European Region does not include vaccination against hepatitis B of newborns and infants in 13 countries (25,0%), of older children and adolescents in 28 countries (53,8%) and among them newborns, infants older children and adolescents in 8 countries (15,4%). The best coverage of vaccination was found in Italy, Bulgaria, Poland, Romain and Lithuania. Number of cases of hepatitis B in the years 1990-2001 in 10 countries among 22 (45,4%), decreased in 6 countries (27,2%), increased in 4 countries (18,2%). The biggest improvement of epidemiological situation of hepatitis B was found in Poland.

[Coverage of vaccination against hepatitis B in Poland in 2004]. / Stan zaszczepienia przeciwko wirusowemu zapaleniu watroby typu b w Polsce do konca 2004 roku.

Vaccinations against hepatitis B were performed according to Programme of Vaccination since 1989. 31,1% of population was vaccinated at the and of 2004. In voivodships vaccination was performed between 38,2% and 27,6% Children and adolescents up to 19 years old were vaccinated in 77,6% and persons older than 20 in 15,6%. In the next 2-4 years all children, adolescents and young adults up to 23 should be vaccinated against hepatitis B in Poland in 95% or even more.

[Hepatitis C. The most important epidemiological aspects]. / Wirusowe zapalenie watroby typu C. Najbardziej istotne aspekty epidemiologiczne.

Hepatitis C, caused by HCV is one of 5 kinds of hepatitis, and one of 3 bloodborne hepatitis. The courses of disease in big part of infected HCV persons are with small or even with no symptoms, and big part of infected persons develop chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis or even hepatocellulare carcinoma. Control of hepatitis C is concentrated on elimination of source of infection, cutting the ways of spreading, and on therapy of cases. Prophylactic vaccine, as well as immunoglobulin specific for disease to this time is unknown. Under the course of studies are therapeutic vaccines against HCV.

[Epidemiological situation of hepatitis B in Poland in the years 1979-2004]. / Sytuacja epidemiologicznawirusowego zapalenia watroby typu B w Polsce w latach 1979-2004.

Number of cases of hepatitis B in the years 1993-2004 has decreased above 88%. Incidence rate in 2004 in majority voivodships has been similar to average rates in West European countries. The high incidence rate in Poland is now due to high rates in voivodships: Lodzkie, Swietokrzyskie, Dolnoslaskie, Kujawsko-pomorskie as well as of persons in age 20-24 and above 65. The need of analysis of incidence rate in relation to poviats, age of cases with conclusions to eliminate of source, interruption of ways of spreading of infection, and immunization of people especially in high risk groups was discussed and established.

[Hepatitis B and hepatitisC in 2005 in Poland. Unexpected increasing]. / Niespodziewany wzrost liczby zachorowan na wirusowe zapalenie watroby typu B i typu C w 2005 roku w Polsce.

In 2005 the increasing of number of cases and incidence rate of hepatitis B was noted for the first time in last 12 years and in the first time in the period of intensive control of this disease. Also the high increasing of number of cases and incidence rate of hepatitis C was noted in 2005. On the basis of analysis the conclusion was withdrawn that change of the way of publication of statistical and epidemiological material introduced according to suggestions of European Commission concerning hepatitis B and C was the most important cause of this observation. Notsatisfactory changes of way of sterilisation of medical equipment in relation to difficulties of financial problems may be the serious affair of these observations. The low incidence rate of hepatitis B in big part of voivodeships may be also a cause of these observations connected with periodical increasing and decreasing of number of cases.

[Hepatitis A in Poland in 2003]. / Wirusowe zapalenie watroby typu A (wzw A) w 2003 roku.

Epidemiological situation of hepatitis A in Poland since 1997 was evaluated as low endemicity and since 2002 as very low endemicity. High percentage of cases were noted among adult persons, especially in the age 25-29 years. The course of disease was more serious, than before 1997. In 2004 only 95 cases of hepatitis A were noted in Poland (Incidence rate 0.25/100 000). The number and percentage of unimmunized persons, especially among children, adolescents and young adults increases very rapidly. In such situation vaccination against hepatitis A of persons from risk groups is necessary.

[Vaccination against hepatitis B and the risk of multiple sclerosis]. / Szczepienia przeciwko wirusowemu zapaleniu watroby typu B a domniemany zwiazek z wystepowaniem stwardnienia rozsianego.

A paper on sclerosis multiplex as sequellae of vaccination against hepatitis B with recombinant vaccine was published in the journal of "Neurology" in September 2004. Problem was evaluated in United Kingdom on the ground of General Practice Research Database (GPRD). In 1996 similar problem was evaluated with negative results in several studies. Just now in opinions of many institutions as well as many persons vaccination against hepatitis B with recombinant vaccine should be continued in similar way as it was performed to this time.

[Bacterial meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis. Prophylactic measures]. / Zapalenie opon mózgowo-rdzeniowych powodowane przez Neisseria meningitidis--zapobieganie zakazeniom.

Meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis is one of the most frequent and most serious, with fatal rate between few up to 20%. Majority of cases are caused by Neisseria meningitidis of serological groups A, B, C, as well as Y and W 135. Vaccination is the most effective prophylactic measure against meningococcal meningitidis. Polysaccharide, not conjugated vaccines against Neisseria meningitidis serological groups A, C, W 135, Y effective for children over 2 years old, adolescents and adults as well as vaccine against serogroup C conjugated with protein carrier, effective for children over 2 months of life, adolescents and adults are used. Conjugated vaccine against serological group C was used in 1998/1999 in Great Britain in the mass vaccination of infants in 2, 3, 4 months of life, children and adolescents up to 17. In Poland as well as in other European countries serological group B is an etiological factor of majority of cases caused by Neisseria meningitidis. Intensive studies are performed in the field on effective, safety, cheap vaccine against all serological groups of Neisseria meningitidis.

[Changes in endemicity of hepatitis A in Poland]. / Zmiany w endemicznosci wirusowego zapalenia watroby typu A (wzw A) w Polsce.

Hepatitis cases have been reported and notified in Poland as infectious disease since 1951. Numbers of cases of hepatitis type A were estimated for the years 1970-1996, and since 1997 separate reporting and notification of this disease was introduced. Up to 1977 high endemicity, in the years 1978-1996 middle endemicity, and since 1997 low endemicity of hepatitis A have been observed. Vaccinations against hepatitis A have been recommended by programme of immunization since 1996. Annually between 13 and 23 thousand persons were vaccinated (less than 1 promile), except the period just after the flood in 1997, when 166 thousand of persons were vaccinated (0.4%).

[Epidemiologic aspects of viral hepatitis A and vaccination]. / Wybrane problemy epidemiologiczne wirusowego zapalenia watroby typu A (wzw A) oraz szczepien.

Epidemiological problems connected with hepatitis A in twentieth century and in the first years of twenty-first were mentioned with special attention of self-limiting of cases in the periods of very high, high, medium, low and very low endemicity. Decreasing of percentage of immunised persons was observed especially among children and young persons. It may be a cause in future of increasing of numbers of cases of hepatitis A even epidemics. Therefore vaccination against hepatitis A some people in risk groups is now recommended. Especially are included persons with some professions (health workers, persons employed in food and meals industry, travellers to the region of high or medium endemicity etc), persons living in territory of poor sanitary conditions, children, adolescents and young adults as well as persons with some chronic diseases, drug addicts, homosexuals.

[Results of the work of sanitary-epidemiologic service in Poland during last 85 years and perspectives for the future]. / Osiagniecia w okresie 85 lat dzialalnosci i perspektywy dzialania sluzby sanitarno-epidemiologicznej w Polsce.

Just after the First World War, when Poland received independence, activity of sanitary-epidemiological service was included as the most important in the country. In this time epidemiological situation of infectious diseases was unsuccessful, especially concerning typhus exantematicus, typhoid fever, dysentery, diphtheria, tuberculosis. National Central Epidemiological Institute and since 1923 National Institute of Hygiene together with filias in some voivodships up to 1954 were appointed as sanitary epidemiological service especially to control the infectious diseases. In 1954 National Sanitary Inspection was appointed as official institution of central administration in the country to the hygienic and antiepidemiological problems and National Institute of Hygiene stated to work as scientific unit only. National Sanitary Inspection was organised as the net of sanitary-epidemiological stations in voivodeships, districts and as frontiers stations.

Risk of Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis in Polish children varies directly with number of siblings: possible implications for vaccination strategies.

BACKGROUND: In the absence of an effective vaccine, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) meningitis has frequently been found to be the most common bacterial meningitis among children less than or equal to 5 years of age. This study was conducted prior to the introduction of Hib vaccine in Poland, and is the first case-control study of Hib meningitis in this country. METHODS: A 1:3 matched case-control study was nested within a population-based surveillance study of Hib meningitis in children less than or equal to 5 years old in Poland. Controls were matched on the case's age at onset of disease and immunization center. RESULTS: Having one or more siblings is a highly significant risk factor for Hib meningitis and, under the rare disease assumption, risk increases linearly with the increase in the number of siblings. The size of the living area of the home was not itself a significant risk factor for disease. Breast-feeding was not protective in contrast to previous studies. Childcare outside of the home was a significant risk factor for Hib meningitis especially among children greater than 16 months of age, whereas the effect of sibling number on Hib meningitis was much greater among the younger children. CONCLUSION: Risk of Hib meningitis approximately doubles for every unit increase in the number of siblings. Routine vaccination of Polish infants who have two or more siblings could potentially prevent half of the Hib meningitis cases.

[History of poliomyelitis infection in the world and in Poland ]. / Choroba heinego i medina--porazenie dzieciece--poliomyelitis--polio. Rozkwit i agonia choroby w dwudziestym wieku.

The history of poliomyelitis infection in the world with special regards to Poland has been described. The main clinical and epidemiological features of disease have been outlined, especially these that helped to start global polio eradication initiative. Study and search for safe and effective vaccine have been presented. An impact of vaccination on epidemiological situation of poliomyelitis in the world and in Poland has been illustrated. The general principles and results of global poliomyelitis eradication program have been reported.

[Adverse effects following vaccinations and effectiveness of different live vaccines against mumps]. / Szczepienia przeciw swince--ich skutecznosc i niepozadane odczyny poszczepienne.

The paper analyses adverse effects with special emphasis on meningitis following mumps vaccination with vaccines containing different strains of mumps virus. It also provides information on the comparative effectiveness of different types of vaccines. Information is based on the review of literature and data collected in the Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Hygiene in Warsaw. Most of the data provides evidence that risk of aseptic meningitis following vaccines containing Jeryl Lynn strains of the mumps virus is generally smaller than the risk following vaccines based on Urabe AM 9 strain. Studies on vaccine effectiveness showed moderately higher effectiveness of vaccines based on Urabe AM 9. The main aim of this paper was to provide comprehensive information on the effectiveness and safety of mumps vaccines registered in Poland for the purpose of decisions making on their use.